The Round of 16 finally came to a close this midweek as the final
four ties were settled. The Tuesday game saw Botafogo of Brazil put all
their eggs in the Brasileirão basket when they sent a reserve side to
Colombia to take on Santa Fe. Level on aggregate from the first leg at
the Engenhão four weeks ago it took Santa Fe just two minutes to go
ahead on the night and on aggregate, Óscar Rodas striking for the home
side and six minutes later Omar Pérez doubled the lead. It got worse for
Botafogo on the stroke of half time when Leo scored into his own net
and a second for Rodas just after the hour put the icing on the cake.
Alexandre Oliveira got a consolation goal for the visitors three minutes
from time but the misery was piled on further when Alex got himself
stupidly sent off in injury time. Santa Fe will now face Vélez in the
last eight.

Brazilian league leaders Vasco da Gama were a team still taking
things seriously as they sent out a full strength side to try and claw a
two goal deficit back against Aurora of Bolivia at the São Januário.
Vasco struck first with just nine minutes on the clock when Bernardo
reduced the aggregate deficit to one but seven minutes later the
visitors levelled, Augusto Andaveris with the goal. Nine minutes before
the break Aurora suffered a blow when Gonzalo Galindo was sent off for a
second yellow card and by half time the tie was completely level thanks
to two goals from Alecsandro. Vasco went ahead for the second time in
the tie when Leandro scored four minutes after the break and it seemed
Vasco were on their way to the last eight when Juninho Pernambucano
converted from the spot twenty minutes from time. Two minutes later
though, the tie was on again and Aurora were a goal away from qualifying
after Doinedes Peña converted from the spot but a second from Bernardo
eight minutes later gave Vasco breathing space again. Four minutes later
Dougles made it seven on the night but Aurora didn't give up and Ronald
Segovia got their third on the night three minutes from time. The
scoring wasn't done their though as Allan got Vasco's eighth in injury
time to see them through to a last eight tie with Universitario of Peru.

In Asunción, new São Paulo coach Emerson Leão was in charge for the
first time and with their league form wavering this competition probably
represented their best change of securing any Libertadores football at
the Morumbi next year. It meant a pretty full strength team appeared in
Asunción but Libertad were not in the mood for taking any prisoners. A
stupid foul from Luís Fabiano gave Libertad the chance to take the lead
from the spot with just ten minutes gone and Sergio Aquino smashed the
ball past Rogério Ceni to level the tie on aggregate. Libertad were
dominant and São Paulo couldn't get back into the game at all the the
home side wasted opportunities to go ahead on the night and in the tie.
They finally went ahead in the tie half way through the second half when
José Nuñez sent the home crowd into raptures. An away goal would have
put São Paulo through but Libertad held on and they face LDU Quito in
the last eight.

The Premier Sports TV cameras were at the National Stadium in
Santiago as Flamengo were faced with overturning a four goal deficit
from the last week's first leg against Universidad de Chile at the
Engenhão. Shares in Azul Azul, who own and manage the Chilean club,
surged after last weeks success and they will have gone even higher
after a 1-0 victory last night put them into the last eight. Flamengo,
still in a fight for top spot in the Brasileirão, knew their goose was
cooked and they sent a reserve side for the game and Vanderlei
Luxemburgo only named four players on the bench as they prioritised
Saturday's trip to Porto Alegre to face Grêmio. Universidad were on top
from the start and the inexperienced Flamengo side struggled to find
their feet and it was no surprise when Marcelo Diaz put the home side
ahead half way through the first half. It was a superb goal, Eduardo
Vargas with the lay off and Diaz beat Paulo Victor from twenty five
yards out. Universidad continued to press but the Flamengo defence held
firm under the pressure but it's the Chilean side who progress to take
on Arsenal in the last eight.

The Quarter Finals get underway next week, at the time of writing
CONMEBOL have yet to confirm the schedule for next week but all games,
if possible, will be covered live by Premier Sports TV